Knicks' David Fizdale more optimistic about Kristaps Porzingis returning this season

Head coach confirms Porzingis is inching closer in rehab

By John Healy | 11:32AM

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New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (David Zalubowski/AP)

There does not appear to be a miscommunication between David Fizdale and Kristaps Porzingis this time around.

The Knicks star forward recently told GQ he was close to returning that he could "taste it," and on Sunday, Fizdale seemed to share that sentiment.

The Knicks head coach spoke with much more optimism about Porzingis than he did two weeks ago and left the door open for the 23-year-old to return this season but cautioned that Porzingis is not cleared to practice just yet.

Knicks takeaways from Sunday's loss to Magic

Knicks drop fifth straight despite Hardaway's 32 points

Nov 18 | 9:07PM

New York Knicks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. shoots a 3-pointer during the second quarter at Amway Center. (Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports)

The Knicks came back from a 17-point first-half deficit but were outscored 64-51 in the second half as they lost to the Orlando Magic 131-117 on Sunday at Amway Center. >> Box score

Things to know about Sunday's game

1. After the Knicks trailed 102-99 midway through the fourth quarter, the Magic went on a 10-3 run capped by a Jonathan Isaac three-point play that gave Orlando a 112-102 lead. New York never got closer than five points the rest of the way.

2. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 32 points and Trey Burke added 31 for the Knicks, who have lost five in a row. Enes Kanter recorded a 21-point, 20-rebound double-double in 37:40, though he only scored seven points in the second half.

A week ago in Madison Square Garden, the Orlando Magic scored the first 10 points, led by 20 after the first quarter, by as many as 34 and rolled past the New York Knicks for their most lopsided win of the season.

The venue will be different this time when Orlando hosts New York on Sunday and so is the direction of the teams.

Orlando is 6-2 in its last eight games since it absorbed a 120-95 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 2. The Magic won their second straight Saturday night when they shot a season-high 53.8 percent in a 130-117 win over the Los Angeles Lakers...

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Rookie starters impress Knicks' David Fizdale despite another loss

Trier, Robinson, and Knox started together in New Orleans Friday night

Friday night in New Orleans featured yet another new starting five from David Fizdale and the Knicks. And despite the close loss, Fizdale was impressed by how it looked throughout the game.

All three Knicks rookies were penciled in, as Allonzo Trier joined MItchell Robinson and Kevin Knox at tip off. Fizdale mentioned before the game yesterday that all three players have earned their spots, and it was time to see what they could do together.

"I just wanted to keep an open mind to everything and see how it plays out," Fizdale told The Post's Marc Berman. "All of these guys to their credit have really shown some great moments in the NBA. So I figured why not look at them all together out there with Timmy and with our best passer and see how that looks if they're moving up and down the court fast."

The Knicks led the Pelicans for 45 minutes on Friday night -- and up 19 in the first half -- but still could not come away with the victory.

New Orleans fought its way back in the second half -- going on a 26-10 run to close out the fourth quarter -- and the Knicks squandered their lead with 2:33 left in regulation to fall to the Pelicans, 129-124, in their fourth striaght loss. >> Box score

David Fizdale's new Knicks lineup to be tested vs. Pelicans at 8 p.m.

All three rookies will get the start on Friday night

Nov 16 | 6:54PM

New York Knicks shooting guard Allonzo Trier controls the ball against Chicago Bulls small forward Justin Holiday during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. (Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)

Knicks coach David Fizdale changed his lineup at Oklahoma City on Wednesday, but New York lost 128-103 in its third consecutive lopsided loss even though the Thunder played without All-Star guard Russell Westbrook.

"We gave up 128 points for the second time (in three games)," center Enes Kanter told the New York Post. "We were No. 1 in transition defense and tonight was pretty bad."

Fitzdale inserted Emmanuel Mudiay into the starting lineup at point guard and rookie Kevin Knox made his first NBA start. >> READ MORE

Knicks head coach David Fizdale's lineup experiment continues on Friday night when his starting five will feature all three rookies for the first time this season.

First-rounder Kevin Knox got his first career start against the Thunder in Wednesday's 128-103 blowout, and second-rounder Mitchell Robinson has been cemented at center for some time now.

It will be undrafted rookie Allonzo Trier making his first career start, as he has impressed early on this season. The three rookies will work alongside Emmanuel Mudiay and Tim Hardaway Jr. at tip off.

David Fizdale is giving Knicks the ax -- sort of

A new motivational tool has entered the team's locker room

Nov 15 | 9:24PM

Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale reacts to a call in the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at FedExForum. (Nelson Chenault/USA TODAY Sports)

It's way too early for David Fizdale to be getting the ax as Knicks head coach, so why not bring one into the locker room?

That's right: Fizdale imported a literal ax for his players to autograph as part of a bizarre (yet original) motivational tool.

"I promise I'm not going to kill anybody,'' Fizdale said reassuringly on Thursday, per the New York Post. "That's why I keep the rubber tip, in case someone wants to come after me over playing time.''

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WATCH: Would losing hurt Knicks' chances at landing Kevin Durant?

The Daily News Live crew breaks it down

Nov 15 | 7:47PM

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Lose or win for Kevin Durant?00:02:40

The Daily News Live crew debates on whether the Knicks losing will help lure or deter Kevin Durant from coming to New York in free agency.

The Knicks are expected to make a hard pursuit at All-Star F Kevin Durant this offseason, as he's set to become a free agent.

But is the Knicks' losing culture going to hinder them from landing the two-time NBA Finals MVP?

The Daily News Live crew give their opinion on whether or not head coach David Fizdale's current team's struggles would turn Durant off to making The Mecca his new home...

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Rockets part ways with former Knick Carmelo Anthony

Anthony has been on three teams since start of last season

Nov 15 | 7:01PM

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Houston Rockets forward Carmelo Anthony reacts after a play during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Toyota Center. (Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports)

Carmelo Anthony has played his last game with Houston.

Rockets GM Daryl Morey announced the team's split with the former Knick Thursday before Houston's game against the Warriors.

"After much internal discussion, the Rockets will be parting ways with Carmelo Anthony and we are working toward a resolution," Morey said in a statement. "Carmelo had a tremendous approach during his time with the Rockets and accepted every role head coach Mike D'Antoni gave him. The fit we envisioned when Carmelo chose to sign with the Rockets has not materialized, therefore we thought it was best to move on as any other outcome would have been unfair to him."

The Knicks tried a new starting five on Wednesday night, but it didn't work as Paul George led the Thunder to a dominant 128-103 win on their home court. >> Box score

Things to know about Sunday's game

1) Head coach David Fizdale mixed up his starters with rookie Kevin Knox getting his first career start, and Emmanuel Mudiay taking over for Damyean Dotson and Frank Ntilikina respectively. But the move didn't change the woes the Knicks have faced in the last three games. Knox did finish with 15 points, but only on 5-of-16 from the field, including two three-pointers. Mudiay had just seven points, and was quick to dish the ball back out to the perimeter when he looked to have an open lane to the bucket on some possessions.

It was supposed to be a blowout when the Eastern Michigan Eagles traveled to Cameron Indoor to face the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils on Wednesday night.

And it was thanks to the team's leading scorer in Zion Williamson.

In just 20 minutes on the floor during Duke's 84-46 win, Williamson dropped 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting with nine rebounds (team high), two assists, and two blocks as well.

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Knicks aiming to snap losing skid against Thunder at 8 p.m.

New York suffered two double-digit losses over the weekend

Nov 14 | 6:00PM

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New York Knicks shooting guard Allonzo Trier controls the ball against Chicago Bulls small forward Justin Holiday during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. (Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)

After using the same starters for the last nine games, New York Knicks coach David Fizdale might overhaul his lineup for Wednesday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

"We are going to look at some more stuff, me and the staff, when we get on the plane," Fizdale told reporters Tuesday before the Knicks left for Oklahoma City. "Look at some groups and I may make some changes, but I'm not there yet."

If Fizdale does decide to tweak things from the lineup that's gone 3-6, it figures to affect rookie forward Kevin Knox, who has had two solid games after missing seven games early in the season with an ankle injury. >> READ MORE

'The hard part is not being able to compete'

New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis, of Latvia, reacts after fouling out against the Denver Nuggets in the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-118. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (David Zalubowski/AP)

There has never been a real timetable on Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis as he recovers from surgery to repair his ACL, but he's making progress -- shooting on court while sprinting off court.

"I think I'm falling into the same things that other coaches have tried to find: What is he?" Fizdale told the Post. "What spot is best on the floor for him? Can he handle playing the four and the two from a position-less standpoint? Or does he just need to be slotted?"

Knicks rookie Mitchell Robinson has a bunch of highlight reel dunks to his credit so far this season, including the ridiculous reverse alley-oop he pulled off on Nov. 2.

And Robinson would love to be in the dunk contest at the All-Star festivities in February. Oh, and he wouldn't mind playing in the rookie/sophomore game too.

"It's crossed my mind,'' Robinson told Marc Berman of the New York Post. "I always wanted to be in one - a dunk contest. If I have a chance, why not go for it. And if I get selected for that [the rookie-sophomore game], it would be great, too. It's a big dream of mine. Maybe I can do both."

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Knicks' Kevin Knox salutes the troops for Veterans Day

'It means a lot to go out and play for them'

Nov 12 | 7:27PM

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Kevin Knox salutes our troops00:00:37

New York Knicks rookie forward Kevin Knox takes time on Veterans Day to thank our troops for their service.

The amount of vitriol and hate going around for Carmelo Anthony this offseason was ridiculous. And with his brief tenure with the Rockets reportedly about to come to an end, Melo is getting it from all angles again.

First off, let's talk about facts and what is justified criticism of the 10-time NBA All-Star.

Coming off a 16-point loss to the league-leading Toronto Raptors on Saturday afternoon, the turmoil-plagued New York Knicks return to Madison Square Garden on Sunday night to host the woeful Orlando Magic and hopefully bring some calm into their world.

If it were just the on-court product, that would be one thing. The Knicks are certainly struggling on the hardwood, where they've dropped three of four, including a 116-115 loss to the Chicago Bulls in their last home game on Nov. 5.

But with coach David Fizdale in the news for all the wrong reasons -- he claimed Thursday that his star player and the face of the franchise, Kristaps Porzingis, had not made significant progress in his rehab and was not yet sprinting, only for Porzingis to post a video on Instagram of him sprinting later that day -- perhaps a date with the 5-7 Magic is what the team needs right now.

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Knicks Takeaways from 128-112 loss to Raptors in Toronto

Hardaway Jr. finished with 27 points, while Kanter had a double-double

The Eastern Conference-best Raptors were too much for the Knicks, as New York fell 128-112 in Toronto on Saturday. >> Box Score

Things to know about Saturday's game

1) There was sloppy basketball to kick off this one, with both teams not hitting their shots and turning the ball over. But when things settled down, the Knicks were keeping up with the Raptors as the first quarter ending in a 25-25 tie. But the home team turned it up in the second quarter with 39 points to New York's 28, and ran away from there. Seven Raptors finished with double-digit points.

Check All-Star SG Jimmy Butler off the Knicks' free-agent targets list. Or at least that's what it sounds like after the Sixers struck a deal with the Timberwolves for Butler on Saturday.

The Sixers landed Butler and C Justin Patton in return for SG Robert Covington, F Dario Saric, and a 2022 second-round draft pick. And they do so with the full intention of signing Butler to a long-term deal before he reaches free agency, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Knicks are expected to be very active this offseason, having enough cap room to sign a prolific superstar to a max deal if they can convince one to do so. Butler was a target for New York, but he is now off the table -- in the Eastern Conference nonetheless...

The Timberwolves have finally granted SG Jimmy Butler's wish to leave Minnesota, as they reportedly traded him to the Sixers.

The deal, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania, has the Sixers dealing SG Robert Covington, F Dario Saric, and a 2022 second-round pick for Butler and C Justin Patton.

Knicks team president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry made it clear that they didn't want to trade for a player like Butler because it would be a waste of assets for someone set to be a free agent this offseason. However, Butler's free-agent may be changed before this season ends.

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Knicks' David Fizdale says he's on same page with Kristaps Porzingis, after they clearly were not

Porzingis' Instagram differs from Fizdale's sprinting comment

Nov 9 | 1:00PM

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Fizdale: "Why let things linger"00:00:49

After Kristaps Porzingis was seen running around New York, David Fizdale walks back his comments on the Knicks power forward.

Now, Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis and head coach David Fizdale are on the same page.

Fizdale said on Thursday that Porzingis hadn't begun sprinting and was at the same stage in the recovery process as he was during the summer. Later that night, Porzingis took to his Instagram story to post two photos of him sprinting at a nearby outdoor track.

Knicks' Lance Thomas undergoes arthroscopic surgery on knee

Thomas out at least four weeks

Nov 9 | 12:02PM

Knicks forward Lance Thomas will be re-evaluated in about four weeks after he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Thursday, the team announced on Friday.

Thomas underwent surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery by team orthopedist Dr. Answorth Allen to remove loose bodies in his knee. He will begin rehab immediately and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Thomas did not play in Wednesday's game over the Hawks and was limited to five minutes in Monday's double-overtime loss to the Bulls.

Forget Kyrie Irving, perhaps the Knicks will make a play for the other Celtics point guard, Terry Rozier.

The 24-year-old has taken a backseat to a healthy Irving this season and if Irving is true to his word and plans on returning to Boston, the Celtics could decide to shop Rozier.

According to The Athletic, at least seven teams are monitoring Rozier's status waiting to see if the Celtics decide to part ways, knowing they have a verbal commitment from Irving.

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Knicks' Kristaps Porzingis mum on knee while walking in NYC

The 23-year-old dodges knee questions same night he posts pic of himself sprinting on Instagram

By John Healy | Nov 9 | 9:57AM

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New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis, of Latvia, reacts after fouling out against the Denver Nuggets in the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Denver. The Nuggets won 130-118. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (David Zalubowski/AP)

Kristaps Porzingis appears to prefer doing his talking on Instagram.

The Knicks' star forward was spotted in New York by TMZ Sports on Thursday night but refused to answer any questions, which included an update on his surgically repaired left knee.

After a report indicated Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis has yet to begin sprinting nine months following ACL surgery, the 23-year-old star posted photos on his Instagram story of him sprinting to show his progress.

Knicks head coach David Fizdale told the New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy on Thursday that Porzingis, who suffered a torn ACL in February, was at the same stage in his recovery as he was over the summer.

Knicks center and potentially aspiring WWE starEnes Kanter knows a thing or two about pro wrestling, but the big man is no fan of one Hawks social media staffer delivering a WWE-themed joke at his expense.

Kanter on Thursday called out the unnamed staffer who highlighted a dangerous tumble Kanter took over Atlanta's Miles Plumlee while battling for the ball Wednesday night. The tweet -- captioned with Jim Ross' famous WWE call "As God as my witness, he is broken in half!" -- dramatized Kanter's fall in a video, and he was having none of it.

"I don't know who's running their social media - a high schooler?'' Kanter said, per the New York Post. "I know they've been tweeting some crazy stuff. Probably a high schooler. Whoever it is, they should consider anyone [else] for sure because it is terrible."

Derek Fisher blames himself for not questioning Phil Jackson's triangle offense with Knicks

'I didn't find a way to communicate effectively'

Nov 8 | 11:00AM

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New York Knicks head coach Derek Fisher looks towards New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony during first half against Denver Nuggets at Madison Square Garden. (Noah K. Murray/USATSI)

Shortly after he was fired as Knicks head coach in February 2016, Derek Fisher said he thought implementing Phil Jackson's triangle offense was complex because it "requires so much terminology-wise [and] specific skill set-wise."

On Wednesday, he took his admission to another level, telling FS1's "The Fair Game Show" he may not have accepted the Knicks job had he known ahead of time Jackson wanted him to run the triangle offense.

"Had he said, 'Hey, Fish, you have to run the triangle. There's no way around it. If you're not going to do that, it's going to be an issue and maybe we need to go in a different direction,'" Fisher told FS1, according to ESPN's Ian Begley. "... Those weren't conversations that we had. So our communication wasn't effective that (would have) allowed us to both go into the situation knowing this is what it's going to be."

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Knicks Takeaways from 112-107 win over Hawks on the road

Five Knicks finished with double-digit points, Hardaway Jr. led with 34

The Knicks stumped Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks with a 112-107 win on the road Wednesday night. >> Box Score

Things to know about Monday's game

1)Tim Hardaway Jr. was a main reason the Knicks totaled 47 free throw attempts on Wednesday night, which is the most by any team in franchise history. Hardaway got 20 attempts from the charity stripe, converting 16 of them on his way to a team-high 34 points. He also had three assists and three steals on the night, as he continues to be the veteran scorer the Knicks need him to be.

Two of the youngest teams in the NBA meet Wednesday when the Atlanta Hawks host the New York Knicks in their second meeting of the season.

The Knicks (3-8) have an average age of 24.156, the youngest in the NBA. The Hawks (3-7) have 10 players with two years or fewer NBA experience and average 3.31 years, a figure that drops to 2.63 when you take away 20-year veteran Vince Carter.

One of New York's three victories came in the season opener, a 126-107 victory over Atlanta at Madison Square Garden.

Zion Williamson's opening statement in his Duke debut Tuesday night seemed strong enough to persuade nearly any NBA team to tank for the electrifying freshman forward.

The 18-year-old top NBA prospect dropped 28 points in a 118-84 rout of Kentucky in the Champions Classic, creating highlight after highlight in a memorable premiere. And the Knicks, like every team in the running for a high draft pick in 2019, were surely paying attention.

Williamson combined with fellow Blue Devils freshmen Cam Reddish and RJ Barrett to score a whopping 83 points. The trio is slated to dominate draft talk through June, but it's the undeniable power in Williamson that has earned him most of the spotlight.

Knicks takeaways from double-overtime loss to Bulls

Trier's clutch shots not enough as LaVine shines

Nov 5 | 11:06PM

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Knicks lose in double overtime00:01:23

Knicks head coach David Fizdale and center Enes Kanter comment on the Knicks' loss to the Bulls in double overtime, 116-115.

Despite clutch game-tying shots by Allonzo Trier in regulation and Emmanuel Mudiay in double overtime, Zach LaVine hit a free throw with 0.2 seconds remaining in the second overtime after a Mudiay foul as the Knicks lost to the Chicago Bulls 116-115 on Monday at Madison Square Garden.

Things to know about Monday's game

1. Mudiay tied the game with a fastbreak layup with 2.7 seconds remaining to tie the game at 115, but he fouled LaVine on a shot attempt in the final second. LaVine hit the first free throw and missed the second as New York fell to 3-7.

2. Trier scored 11 of his 21 points in the final 5:17 of regulation, including a 27-foot 3-pointer with 41.9 seconds remaining to tie the game at 102. With 3 seconds left, though, he missed a potential game-winning jumper and Mario Hezonja missed a put-back layup attempt that forced overtime.